North Tipperary Junior A Hurling League

Knockshegowna 0-6 Nenagh Éire Óg 0-14

Well done to our Junior A hurlers who won their second match of the 2018 North Tipperary Junior A hurling league with a deserved eight-point win over Knockshegowna in Ballingarry this evening. Played in miserable conditions the team followed up their great win over Kilruane MacDonaghs with another fine performance.

Nenagh Éire Óg qualified for the intermediate camogie league final today following a great 4-7 to 1-9 victory over neighbours Silvermines.

In fact, it was Silvermines who started brightest creating three scoring opportunities in the opening few minutes, hitting two wides and forcing Sarah Quigley into making the first of many fine saves in the second minute from a ground shot however it was Éire Óg who made the first dent on the scoreboard with a pointed free from Ciara McGrath. The ‘Mines responded with a pointed effort of their own before a Ciara McGrath delivery into the penalty box created panic in the ‘Mines defense. The ball eventually broke to Maeve Coffey who blasted home the opening goal in the 8th minute.

Silvermines responded with a point soon after however in the 11th minute Alanna Morris gathered the sliothar on the ’45 and her effort at a point dropped short and with strong pressure from full forward Louise Hickey the ball ended up in the goal for a welcome but fortuitous goal for Nenagh. The Silvermines were plying their trade in the senior grade up to two years ago and they were not about to lie down to last years county Junior-A league and championship winners and pointed five times on the trot between the 20th and 27th minute.

On the stroke of half time Alicia Hallinan forced the ‘Mines keeper into making a superb point blank save but moments later Hallinan pointed to leave the score at Nenagh Éire Óg 2-2 Silvermines 0-7 at the break.

Nenagh started the second half brightly and after Sarah Quigley collected a high ball the sliothar was brilliantly worked up the field to Caroline Browne who pointed from a tight angle to extend Nenagh’s lead. Alanna Morris traded points with Silvermines and midway through the second half Zoey Gratton won possession and found Maeve Coffey with a great pass. Coffey in turn fed Browne who shot home Nenagh’s third goal.

Ciara McGrath pointed soon after which in turn was cancelled out by a fine Silvermines effort. With ten minutes to play Coffey showed her class when she superbly found Caroline Browne who once again goaled for the Blues’. Nenagh were on top at this stage and captain Louise Hickey played in Rachel O Connor who pointed herself and substitute Leah Sheedy got in on the scoring act, pointing in the 57th minute.

Silvermines bravely never gave up and it took two outstanding moments of brilliance from Sarah Quigley to deny them a goal in the 59th minute when she made a great double save. From the resultant 45 Silvermines worked a great goal but it was too late and soon after referee John Lillis sounded full time to leave it Nenagh Éire Óg 4-7 Silvermines 1-9.

Our Junior A team survived a late comeback by Borris-Iliegh to run out 2-15 to 1-11 winners and keep their unbeaten start to the League intact. The game was slow to start, but was a good and entertaining encounter despite the poor conditions.

Willie Bolger opened the scoring for Nenagh in the 8th minute, a score followed swiftly by points from Darragh Walsh and Bob O’Brien. Two quick points from Borris’ closed the gap to the minimum, before points from David Cleary and Bob O’Brien gave Nenagh a two point advantage. The Blue’s lead was stretched to 6 points following three points from Darragh Walsh, 2 frees and a long range point from midfield. Borris-Iliegh responded with two pointed frees either side of points from Darragh Walsh and Christopher Ryan, leaving Éire Óg with a half time lead of 10-0 to 0-04.

Johnny Cahalan was introduced in place of Aidan Healy for Nenagh at half-time and made an instant impact, with a point in the 31st minute. This was followed immediately by the opening goal of the game, as Christopher Ryan found the back of the net following an excellent solo run from the half forward line. Borrisloeigh responded with a free, however a Willie Bolger goal in the 35th minute, followed by two quick frees from Darragh Walsh would leave the score at 2-11 to 0-05 after 40 minutes, and left Borris-Iliegh with a 14 point deficit to close. Borris-Iliegh would score 4 of the next 6 points, with David Cleary and David Hackett, a 38th minute substitute for Adam Carey, scoring the Blue’s points. A 55th minute goal for Borris’ set up an exciting finish, however they had simply left themselves too much to do. Nenagh’s defence held firm as Borris’ went looking for more goals, managing only two more points, leaving the final score at 2-15 to 1-11.

With both teams already through to the league semi finals today’s game was all about deciding the final positions in the group and with the result going Drom & Inch’s way they now finish in first place with ourselves in second position.

With heavy rain over the previous 24 hours making underfoot conditions difficult this game was never going to be one of free flowing hurling and scores were always going to be at a premium and this proved the case today as both sides battled hard throughout.

Nenagh got the dream start as within the first 30 seconds Leah Sheedy pointed to open the visitors account but Drom levelled proceedings in the 7th minute with a fine point of their own. Nenagh were creating chances and will be disappointed to see so many of them drop short into the willing hands of the Drom goalkeeper who herself had a great game. In fact in the 16th minute she proved her worth after Caroline Browne fed Maeve Coffey with possession and she blasted a ball towards the top corner but somehow the net minder got her hurley to it. Two minutes later Drom took the lead from a pointed free only for Ciara McGrath to slot one of her own over to leave the half time score at 0-2 apiece.

Drom blasted out of the blocks at the start of the second period and shot four unanswered points between the 36th and 41st minutes. This opened up a gap that, try as Nenagh might, they could never close. Things looked like they were going to get worse for the Blues when a Drom forward pulled on a breaking ball only for Niamh Sheridan in the Nenagh goal to make a fine stop. The ball was worked up the other end of the field and after great work from Sarah Kennedy, Caroline Brown saw her goal bound effort blocked once again by the Drom goalkeeper.

To be fair Nenagh battled hard and manager Paul Henry, while disappointed with the result, with be thrilled with the work rate of his charges who time and again forced their opponents into over carrying. One such time was in the 48th minute out on the sideline and Ciara McGrath brilliantly fired over the resultant free. Alanna Morris added another pointed free after she herself was fouled to narrow the gap to two. Drom pointed themselves shortly after and there was time for some late drama as Alanna Morris fed the impressive Caroline Browne possession and her screaming shot went agonisingly across the face of the Drom goals.

The semi final of this competition takes place on Saturday April 9th at 12pm in the Camogie Grounds, The Ragg when Silvermines will provide the opposition

On Tuesday March 29th, our under-16 camogie side made the trek to Newport for the opening match in this year’s championship and were unfortunately on the receiving end of a 2-11 to 1-3 score line which belies the true nature of the game.

With seven minutes left on the watch of referee Stephen Egan only three points separated the sides, however a late scoring burst from the hosts saw them rattled off 2-2 and ended any hopes Nenagh had.

The game was marred by a torrential downpour moments before throw in and it continued until mid way through the first half making the underfoot conditions impossible for the players however it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the girls who put on an entertaining hours hurling for those present.

The home side started brightly and had four points on the board by the 17th minute and things looked like they were going to get a lot worse for the Blues when Newport created an excellent goal chance but Niamh Sheridan in the Éire Óg goal produced a magnificent save. Indeed, Sheridan had a fine game making a second solid save on 45 minutes and she looked comfortable dealing with highballs and made some excellent deliveries with her puck outs.

Nenagh’s opening score came on 23 minutes following a great run by Leah Kelly. She was fouled just outside the 21-yard line and up stepped Caroline Browne to take the resultant free. She shaped as if she were going to point it but instead blasted a low shot that gave the Newport backs on the line no chance. Newport responded with a point of their own before Leah Kelly treated the crowd to the score of the game. She raced 30 yards in what looked like the pursuit of a lost cause but eventually got to the 14-yard line right out on the sideline to spectacularly block down the Newport back before scooping up the sliothar and splitting the post from the tightest of angles. The halftime whistle sounded shortly after, leaving the scores at Newport 0-5 Nenagh Éire Óg 1-1.

Newport started to dominate the second half and shot four unanswered points to open up a five-point lead by the 47th minute. Ella Carey responded with a fine point after great work from Megan Grace. Becky McGrath won possession out near midfield and delivered an inch perfect pass to Caroline Browne who narrowed the gap to three and it looked like we were in for an exciting finish but Newport finished the game strongly, scoring 2-2 to end any Nenagh hopes.

On Sunday last Nenagh Eire Og ended a long wait at this age for a divisional final when the team staged an amazing comeback to seal a memorable victory over a gallant and superb Kildangan side who had deservedly went in at the break seven points to the good having led by nine at one stage.

John Cahalan opened the scoring with a fine long range effort prior to the excellent Jack Loughnane levelling the sides and before Dan O Meara sent a blistering shot into the corner of Daire Gleeson’s goal. A pointed Shane Hennessy free and a fine Andrew Coffey effort reduced the margin to one but it was to be the closest Nenagh came to their opponents during the opening half hour.

Tadhg Gallagher and Loughnane both pointed to open the margin to a goal before James Mackey hit back with one of his own. Kildangan then benefitted from the blinding winters sun shining into the old scoreboard end when Jack Loughnane’s long range effort deceived the unfortunate Daire Gleeson for the champions second goal. The goal lifted Kildangan’s spirits and Gallagher and Johnny Horan both pointed to extend their lead.

Andrew Coffey, who was Nenagh’s best player throughout, pointed to briefly stem the Kildangan tide but full forward Paul Flynn found the unmarked Ciaran Kelly and blasted home their third goal and extend the lead to nine points. Few, if any in the large crowd could see any way back for the Blues’ at this stage. Points from Coffey, Mackey and Hennessy did offer the town side hope at the interval and with Kildangan getting one of their own, left seven between the sides at the break.

If Nenagh were to have any hope of a comeback it was vital that they get the first score of the second half but it was their opponents who struck first through Andrew Loughnane. Hennessy pointed well from a placed ball before scoring another in-between two fine efforts from Andrew Loughnane and Paul Flynn to leave eight between them in the 36th minute.
This Nenagh team have won a lot of championship honours through the age groups and have a resilience that was to stand to them for the remainder of the game. At no stage did they panic or start going for goals, instead they maturely kept picking off their points to get themselves back into contention. Shane Hennessy, Andrew Coffey, Gary Howard and super substitute Bob O Brien all pointed to reduce the margin to five, 0-14 to 3-10.

Kildangan were dealt a massive blow at this point when Tadhg Gallagher, arguable their best player up to this stage, left the field with an injury and three minutes later they received another sucker punch with a brilliant Gary Howard goal following great work from captain Barry Heffernan. Two more points from Hennessy and Coffey levelled the sides and it appeared as if Nenagh were about to, remarkably, pull this game out of the fire.

Six minutes from the end Andrew Coffey, from a tight angle, gave the Blues’ the lead and with two minutes of normal time remaining Philip Hickey doubled the margin much to the delight of their large and vocal supporters.
Kildangan did not go down easy and fought to the bitter end. Flynn reduced the margin to one and the Nenagh backs were under severe pressure but their discipline and determination held firm and time and again they cleared.
There was more drama in the 65th minute when referee Kieran Delaney awarded Kildangan a free 30 meters from goal. With their main free taker side-lined Barry Hogan was summoned from the goal but his effort went agonizingly wide.

Shortly after Delaney signalled full time much to the delight of players and fans of the Blues.

Greg Browne’s under-21A hurling team are preparing this week to launch their championship campaign while the minor A Camogie team are looking forward to a county semi-final against Newport. Our congratulations also go to Nenagh Handball Club’s Sinéad Meagher who has been crowned All-Ireland under-16 champion. Please read on for all the latest news, photos, reports and fixtures!(more…)

Nenagh Éire Óg and Drom & Inch faced off in the final game of the round robin series and with both sides already through Sunday’s fixture was merely to decide the final group placings – in the end Drom & Inch won with a point to spare.(more…)

Although our senior hurlers suffered county final heartache at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon the Nenagh Éire Óg junior a Camogie team capped off a wonderful season on Saturday when the Blues beat Toomevara by a single point after a titanic struggle in a county final played at The Ragg. Please read on for all the latest news, photos, reports and fixtures!(more…)

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Rody Bolands- Club Sponsor

The Éire Óg Club are very grateful to Rody Boland’s, Rathmines, who this year took on Sponsorship of our Senior Hurling Team. A great spot to stop in when in Dublin, especially on days when Tipperary are playing in Croke Park.

Rody Bolands is owned by Nenagh man Kieran O’Meara and his son Brian. Kieran played underage with Eire Og Nenagh, before moving to Dublin. He is also one of the founding members of the Tipperary Supporters Club, and was Chairman when Tipperary won All Irelands in 1989 and 1991.

Andy’s Bar – Club Sponsor

Éire Óg are very grateful to Andy’s Bar who are the club sponsor. And, Éire Óg encourages all members to support the business activities of our club sponsor whenever possible and practical. Andy’s Bar B&B and Restaurant is located at 23 Sarsfield Street, Nenagh. Phone: 067 32494. Proprietor: Joe Mulqueen (086 234 4312). Visit andysnenagh.com

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Club Lotto

The Éire Óg Lotto is the club’s key fundraising initiative. Please consider supporting the Blues by playing our club lotto online: click here. Just watch how far we can stretch your €2!

About Nenagh Éire Óg

Welcome to Nenagh Éire Óg, a proud north Tipperary GAA club - nine-time north Tipperary and one-time county senior hurling champions (1995).

In 2014 Nenagh Éire Óg catered for over 400 active members (175 juvenile, 225 adult) and in 2015 we hope to grow that number.

Crucially, however, we are not simply interested in developing our playing population. We are also interested in attracting volunteers who are interested in becoming coaches with the club and administrators of the club.

There are plenty of very practical ways in which you can help your club. So, if you are interested in lending a hand drop us a line.